Reply With Quote
But maybe the message is getting through to some of the
Dimm-o-craps. Ciro, one of the biggest socialist in the party is
backing a Conservative bill on border security. Maybe he can
read what people want, including those in his district.
Rep. Rodriguez backs border security bill
Web Posted: 11/06/2007 08:58 PM CST
Gary Martin
Express-News
WASHINGTON — Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, facing Republican opposition to his re-election next year, joined House conservatives Tuesday in backing a get-tough border security bill to crack down on illegal immigration and smuggling.
The bill does not address the millions of undo ented immigrants in this country and focuses on enforcement-only measures to reduce illegal immigration.
Rep. Brian Bilbray, who heads the conservative House Immigration Reform Caucus, said the bill "fulfills the promises of the past by doing what the American people have been waiting for Congress to do for more than 20 years."
The bill would expand enforcement authority to police and deputies, something Rodriguez said is "critical to our local law enforcement agencies burdened with the responsibility of enforcing illegal immigration enforcement with minimal resources."
The original sponsors of the bill, Bilbray, R-Calif., and Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., have been vocal critics of guest-worker programs, a path to citizenship for undo ented workers and other of President Bush's proposals on immigration reform.
The Secure America through Verification and Enforcement Act would add 8,000 new Border Patrol agents, expand the worker verification system, called E-Verify, and stiffen employer sanctions.
The SAVE Act is supported by hard-liners such as Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., and Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., two Republican presidential hopefuls who have raised the issue of illegal immigration in the presidential debate.
Other Texas lawmakers who are co-sponsors of the bill include Reps. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas; John Culberson, R-Houston; Ted Poe, R-Humble; Michael McCaul, R-Austin.
Also offering his support for the measure is Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Stafford, who faces a GOP challenge to his congressional seat once held by Tom DeLay.
Efforts to reform immigration law have failed in the Senate, and House Democratic leaders have not signed on to the SAVE Act, leaving its fate in doubt as Congress enters its final months of legislative business.
The SAVE Act differs from other legislation considered this year, because it focuses entirely on border security and interior enforcement, without measures that address the status of the 12 million immigrants in this country illegally.
The National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Hispanic rights group, opposes the SAVE Act because it fails to take a comprehensive approach to immigration reform, and its worker verification system relies on a data system found faulty by a U.S. court.
"It is essentially investing in the enforcement approach that hasn't been working, and it ignores the 800-pound gorilla in this debate," said Cecilia Munoz, NCLR senior vice president for research, advocacy and legislation.
Rodriguez said he co-sponsored the SAVE Act because it incorporates his legislation that would provide federal assistance to local cities and law enforcement offices along the U.S.-Mexico border.
"Along the border we face a flood of drug, weapons and human smuggling in addition to coping with illegal immigration," Rodriguez said.
"The SAVE Act does something now to address these growing issues."
The bill has attracted the support of 44 Democrats and 41 Republicans, including members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Black Caucus, Republican Study Committee and the Blue Dog Coalition of conservative Democrats.
Bilbray was optimistic that the legislation could pass in the House.
But prospects are doubtful in the Senate, where other immigration measures have failed to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
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